Following Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy’s (D-Woodbridge) resignation from the House of Delegates, community leader and activist, Rozia Henson, Jr. has announced his intention to run for the vacated seat in the ensuing special election.

Delegate Carroll Foy announced via Twitter On Tuesday morning that she will be stepping down in order to focus on her gubernatorial campaign. Her announcement came after news broke of her resignation Monday night. 

Henson, a resident of Woodbridge, says that he was already planning on running for the seat in the 2021 election.

“Virginians cannot wait for policies to pass slowly in the General Assembly,” Henson said. “Let your voices be heard and help progressively move Virginia forward.”

Henson is an Information Technology Program Manager and a member of the Prince William Young Democrats. He also serves on the Prince William County Historical Commission. Henson describes himself as an openly gay progressive, and his campaign is focused on issues surrounding affordable housing, jobs, immigration reform, and environmental reform.

A lifelong resident of House District 2, Henson is also a descendant of Matthew Henson and Joshiah Henson. Matthew Henson along with Robert Perry discovered the North Pole, and Joshiah Henson was a Methodist pastor who helped free slaves from the south and into Canada. 

The special election will take place on January 5, 2021, and the Democratic nominee will be chosen in a firehouse primary on Sunday, December 13, 2020. As of now, no Republican candidates have declared their intention to run, and Republican leadership has not disclosed their nominating process.